Name the actor who was a lion tamer in the circus.
What they did before they became famous is a part of a celebrity’s life that we rarely consider.
They were typical folks who went to the supermarket and the bank on the way home and worked full-time jobs.
While the majority of them boarded the bus each day to go to their 9 to 5, some of them had “more intriguing” ways to make ends meet.
You might be surprised to learn that some of your favourite actors have side hustled as everything from professional jugglers to strippers.
It’s one of the most unusual and intriguing careers to emerge out of Hollywood’s A-list.
Trainer of wild animals
Are you curious about who held that position?
What famous actor was once a lion tamer in the circus?
Although it may come as a shock, Christopher Walken was the famous actor who worked as a lion tamer.
As a child growing up in Astoria (in New York City) in the mid-40s, he wasn’t unfamiliar with the circus.
The use of animals in entertainment was commonplace in the past, but today’s audiences (and even he) cringe at the thought. However, performers once routinely featured dogs, elephants, and even lions on stage.
Walken started doing odd jobs during the summers when he was in middle school to put money down for the school year.
When he was 16, that job involved working in the circus.
He got that job in the circus when he was 16 years old.
So, the circus’s proprietor, who doubled as the resident lion tamer, devised a routine in which Walken portrayed both his son and an apprentice.
They would work together to tame a pride of lions, then the owner would leave the stage, leaving Walken to tame the remaining lions.
According to Walken, this particular lion was far more tame than other wild cats.
When he requested, she would turn over, hop, and perform other things. Moreover, he has been quoted as claiming that she was his favourite animal to work with throughout his time with the circus.
Read Also: Who Was The First Hollywood Actress to Appear on a U.S Postage Stamp?
What is Christopher Walken famous for?
Christopher Walken, who has starred in such blockbusters as Annie Hall, Batman Returns, and Pulp Fiction, began his career as a stand-up comic.
As well as acting, directing, and writing for the cinema, he has experience on the stage.
He was born in New York in 1943 to a mother who wanted nothing more than for her children to be famous.
His mother, a star herself, had high hopes for him when he was born in New York in 1943.
In the 1972 science fiction picture The Happiness Cage, he made his debut in the leading role of James Reese.
As a result, he went on to have a fruitful career in film and television, culminating in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in 1978’s The Deer Hunter.
Celebrities’ Weird Pre-Fame Jobs
Not only does Walken have an unusual resume, but so do many other famous people.
Here are some more that you probably haven’t heard about.
There’s no denying that Rod Stewart dug graves for a living. The job of the gravedigger at the cemetery is to prepare the burial plots for the deceased’s caskets. As a teen, British legend Rod Steward worked in this field to confront his intense dread of dying. Working in such close proximity to death, he reasoned, would help him overcome his fear.
As a matter of fact, Channing Tatum used to work in the adult entertainment industry. This may not be shocking if you’ve seen Magic Mike or seen Channing Tatum in public shirtless. However, Channing supported himself as a stripper in Florida during his younger years after dropping out of college.
A lion cage cleaner, Sylvester Stallone. There is a common thread among the older elite of Hollywood, and that is working with animals. But instead of joining the circus, Stallone found work at New York’s Central Park Zoo. His responsibility was to maintain the lions’ enclosures. It’s surprising for someone who became a legend in old age.
Dempsey, Patrick • Professional juggler. That was a surprise. Heartthrob and juggling are unlikely to be used together, but here we are. Heartthrob Patrick Dempsey’s early career included time spent as a professional juggler. He was paid to juggle, but he was so enthusiastic about it that he entered a global competition when he was just 15 years old. He came in second to an 8-year-old youngster who is now a member of Cirque du Soleil. They’re not too horrible of a loser.
